Overview

A medley of man-made and natural wonders are on full display on this popular tour of Western USA. Yosemite Valley and the Grand Canyon are rivalled only by the power and beauty of the Navajo's sacred Monument Valley. Hike under the world's largest sandstone cliffs at Zion Canyon, observe strange landscapes in Death Valley, and gaze upon the ever-changing colours of Bryce Canyon. Adventure awaits around every corner in the most geographically diverse region of the United States.

Special Offers

View Dates & Prices for all deals.

Included Highlights

Navajo guided backroads tour of Monument Valley and dinner in the valley

Wine and cheese ‘Sundowner’ in an area of natural beauty

Seek out falls, meadows and wildlife with three nights in Yosemite National Park

Experience the extreme landscape of Death Valley National Park

Zion's sandstone cliffs and towering waterfalls

Bryce Canyon National Park’s obscure rock spires

View the Colorado River from Horseshoe Bend

Experience the vast Grand Canyon trails

Grand Canyon sunrise or sunset

Visit the town of Seligman on Route 66

Las Vegas nightscape and driving tour of The Strip

Need to Know

Tour Style

Active

Group Size

Max 14

Hotel

11 Nights

Other Inclusions

Services of a professional tour leader and local guides

All transportation by private vehicle and 4WD in Monument Valley

Free Wi-Fi in your vehicle (Maximum 5 users at one time)

3 breakfasts and 1 dinner with the Navajo in Monument Valley; all other meals paid locally

Essential Information

Prices quoted are land only. Call us on 0333 999 7951 for a flight quote (UK only)

This tour requires a minimum number of five to operate. On rare occasions we may run with lower numbers

Trip Dossier

Download the Western Explorer trip dossier for tour-specific details including full itinerary, pre-departure information, packing tips and more about our style of travel.

Download Dossier

Our Customised Vehicles

You'll travel in a custom-built air-conditioned private vehicle designed with your comfort in mind. Our small group vehicles offer greater flexibility compared to large coaches and guarantee to get you further off the beaten path. Our US fleet of vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and some other great features including:

Extra-large windows for better viewing

Wider seats with additional leg room

6'3'' interior height for added comfort

Full-height electric bi-fold entry door

Centre aisle & overhead luggage racks

Reading lamps and a TV screen

Free Wi-Fi (Limited to max 5 users)

Itinerary

Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local and operational conditions may vary and unforeseen circumstances can arise, the following itinerary should be used as a guideline.

All departures of this tour in 2019 are guaranteed, so once you've booked you can be sure you're going! This guarantee gives you the confidence to book all of your travel arrangements and simply look forward to your holiday.

Look out for the Trip Advisor logo in the itinerary below to read hotel reviews. On the rare occasion that accommodation is not available we will stay in a local property of a similar standard.

Welcome to the 'City by the Bay' in sunny California. San Francisco is a city which the locals are fiercely proud of and for good reason. There's plenty to keep you entertained but the best introduction is to jump on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or book one of our 'Urban Adventures' around the city. A welcome meeting will be held at 18:00 hrs in your hotel.

No trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to Alcatraz. We recommend you book an extra night in our hotel the night before the tour starts and book your ticket online in advance with Alcatraz Cruises.

Kimpton Buchanan Hotel, San Francisco (or similar)

Accommodation

Meals

Depart San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, heading east through California's historic gold country, and make tracks for Yosemite. Here, everything is in gargantuan proportions, including some of North America's tallest cliffs, waterfalls and trees. You'll check into your lodge in the Yosemite region - your 'home' for the next three nights.

Yosemite View Lodge (or similar)

Accommodation

Meals

Yosemite National Park sits nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range of northern California. Here, green forest meets granite walls measuring several thousand feet in height. Rock climbers come from all over the world to scale the rocks whilst hikers get to walk to the base of some of the largest waterfalls in the world. As you explore the park keep your eyes peeled for varied wildlife such as deer, bobcats, marmots and if you're lucky, bears. After a visit to see the amazing Giant Sequoia trees, Yosemite Valley beckons, offering the chance to cycle, take a dip in the Merced River or wander the meadows. The views are breathtaking from every vantage point - the granite formations of Half Dome, El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks are sure to be forever etched on your mind.

Yosemite View Lodge (or similar)

Accommodation

Meals

Optional Activities

One of the hottest, driest and lowest places on earth, Death Valley is blessed with some of the most extreme and beautiful landscapes. Sculpted by erosion, richly tinted mudstone hills and canyons await exploration, with sand dunes and salt pans making for some exceptional photos. You cover some great distances today but also see some fascinating and contrasting scenery on your road trip.

Please note: It has occurred in the past that extreme temperatures, higher than those expected, have prevented us from entering Death Valley National Park. In the event this happens, we will notify you as soon as possible with a suitable replacement. This is a worst-case scenario and we will endeavour to run the programme as advertised.

Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel (or similar)

Accommodation

Meals

Make your way to Utah and your destination for today - Zion National Park. Like an oasis rising from the desert floor, Zion's multi-coloured cliffs and spring-fed hanging gardens are spectacular. Zion Canyon was named by the early Mormon settlers of Utah who thought of it as their 'promised land'. Some of the best hiking in Southwest USA can be found here, in and around the fertile Virgin River Gorge. With an early arrival, today and two nights in Zion, you'll have plenty of time to explore.

La Quinta Inn & Suites (or similar)

Accommodation

Meals

Enjoy a full day to further explore the delights of Zion National Park. There are various hikes to choose from, ranging from easy to strenuous. Warm up your legs by taking a short hike from the valley floor to view the Lower Emerald Pools. Then continue on to the sparkling Upper Emerald Pools, passing a stunning waterfall along the way to discover Zion's `beach'. Cool off from the heat of the summer sun by exploring the Riverside Walk section of the Virgin River.

If you're feeling ambitious, enjoy the park's more challenging option and ascend 2,500 ft. to experience unbeatable panoramic views from the top of Angels Landing. After a beautiful but strenuous hike along the knife-edge ridgeline you'll be rewarded with one of the most breathtaking and powerful panoramas you've ever experienced. If weather conditions permit, you may choose to hike deep into the Zion Narrows, just be prepared to get a little wet.

Accommodation

Meals

Leaving Zion National Park, you climb in elevation to almost 8,300 ft. and traverse a high plateau to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon is a fascinating natural amphitheatre of pink, orange and white sandstone spires, known locally as hoodoos. There are a variety of scenic overlooks and trails that range from easy to moderate in difficulty. The Navajo or Peek-A-Boo Loop Trails will enable you to hike right in amongst these unique rock formations. Some may prefer to hike on the Queens Garden Trail or remain on the rim and photograph the ever-changing shadows and hues as the sun makes its way across the sky.

Meals

Optional Activities

Stop for a walk at Horseshoe Bend for an amazing view of the Colorado River before heading to the heart of the Navajo Nation. Monument Valley, a sacred land to those who call it home, is dotted with fabulous red sandstone monoliths and from here you'll witness spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Having been the backdrop for countless Westerns, you'll half expect to see cowboys riding off into the sunset. You'll explore the incredible array of rock formations on an included and guided 4x4 backroads tour, learning all about the magic and myths of the rich Native American culture. The Navajo Tribal Lands of Monument Valley are a true photographer's paradise. For dinner, we have included a traditional meal, the Navajo taco, out in the valley with the Navajo themselves.

Accommodation

Meals

This morning you leave Monument Valley and drive towards Grand Canyon National Park for the ultimate desert showstopper! Crossing the eastern entrance of the canyon, you'll catch your first glimpse at Desert View. This incredible spectacle is difficult to comprehend, even as you stand at the rim or hike down into the canyon. Carved over several millennia, this massive wonder of nature is 445 km long, up to 29 km wide and over 1.6 km deep. Snaking through the canyon floor is the mighty Colorado River, which runs 2,330 km through seven US states and two Mexican states.

In your free time, we highly recommend a scenic flight over the canyon which offers a perspective that you cannot see by visiting on foot. Also recommended is the film show at the IMAX Theater, which will give you a good overview of the area and how it developed. Alternatively, stroll the meandering South Rim Trail, hike your way down the more challenging trail to Plateau Point, or simply relax at the canyon's edge and enjoy a spectacular sunset over one of the world's most incredible natural wonders.

Optional Activities

En route to Vegas you travel a section of the original Route 66 and visit Seligman, a town full to the brim with Americana wares. Continuing, you make your way towards hedonistic 'Sin City', which really has to be seen to be believed! Las Vegas is the fastest growing city in the United States and is renowned as the `tacky capital of the world' - home to pirates and pyramids, weddings and water fountains! Upon arrival enjoy a driving tour down the famous Las Vegas Strip and see first-hand the resort hotels that make this desert city tick. Vegas really comes alive at night with resort hotels, shows and the Bellagio Fountain's regular water displays. We recommend booking extra nights to explore the city because it's not all clubs and resort hotels. There are numerous art galleries, shops and world-class restaurants for you to enjoy. If you want to enjoy a couple of extra nights, please advise your Americas Specialist when booking your trip.

This tour ends at our gateway hotel at approximately 17:00 hrs. We recommend booking post-tour accommodation if time allows. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.

Accommodation

None included. Tour ends at 17:00 hrs

Meals

Meals paid locally

Tour Extras

We offer a whole range of travel extras, from additional hotel nights to flights and insurance, so you can organise everything you'll need for your trip.

Our tours depart at designated hotels in our gateway cities, so it's a great idea to book a room for the night before and after your tour. It's also worth staying extra nights to explore the city more. You must book these hotels in advance either online with your tour or by contacting our friendly sales team.

SAN FRANCISCO - THE KIMPTON BUCHANAN

1800 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel has prime location in San Francisco's centrally located Japantown and nearby to the shops, boutiques and restaurants of this vibrant neighbourhood, but also close to Union Square.

AIRPORT TRANSFER INFORMATION

If you are flying into San Francisco take the Super Shuttle from the main level of the airport (above baggage collection). It takes 40 minutes and costs US$19-20 per person, although a tip of $1-2 is generally expected. It is recommended to pre-book your transfer on the Super Shuttle website by searching for “The Kimpton Buchanan Hotel” when prompted. Alternatively a taxi direct from the airport to the hotel is between US$40-45, but during peak travel times can be more expensive due to heavy traffic.

Our tours depart at designated hotels in our gateway cities, so it's a great idea to book a room for the night before and after your tour. It's also worth staying extra nights to explore the city more. You must book these hotels in advance either online with your tour or by contacting our friendly sales team.

AIRPORT TRANSFER INFORMATION

The hotel does not operate an airport shuttle service. The quickest way to transfer from the airport to Ballys is by taxi which can be found by queuing up outside the airport terminal, after following the sign for taxis. The cost will be approximately US$18-$20 and a tip of 15% is generally expected.

Located in San Francisco bay, Alcatraz is best known as one of the world's most legendary prisons.Departing from Fisherman's Wharf, you can connect with Alcatraz via a return ferry where you explore within the concrete walls and cells with an audio headset to learn the history and conditions within the prison.

Alcatraz tours can sell out far in advance so if you want to visit Alcatraz you will need to book your own ticket ahead of time directly with Alcatraz Cruises.

Check the itinerary description for San Francisco above for the recommended date and time for your tour.

If you’ve booked pre or post nights in our gateway cities, spend some time exploring. We’ve partnered with GetYourGuide to make sure you take in all the highlights and experience everything these incredible cities have to offer.

Our specialist flights department can offer UK customers a great airline fare to all of our destinations. We have preferred contracts with many international carriers and have secured some of the most competitive prices in the industry.

At Grand American Adventures we believe that your safety and enjoyment are the most important parts of your holiday. That's why we recommend you take out insurance as soon as your booking is confirmed. We can offer you a comprehensive travel insurance policy which is completely tailored for your trip and is specially designed to include all the activities listed we do.

If you do not take our policy, you must ensure that the policy you do take offers an equivalent level of protection and covers you for the activities involved - be aware that some policies do not include, or restrict, coverage for this type of travel. ​

There are loads of exciting optional activities available for you to choose from during your trip giving you the flexibility to do the things you want to and leave out the things you don't. A list of optional activities and approximate costs are shown at the end of each day by day itinerary descriptions above.

Your tour leader will arrange your chosen activities during the tour so no need to pre-book. You'll also pay for these locally so ensure you budget for the bucket list items!

As local weather conditions and seasonality can change not all optional activities may be available on your trip and prices can be subject to change.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the NHS has up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad. For more on security, local laws, plus passport and visa information, see https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/

Keep informed of current travel health news by visiting http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. For all latest travel information about your holiday, please visit our Travel Aware page. The advice can change so check regularly for updates.